Promoting support for community water fluoridation: Testing message effects and the role of normative beliefs.
Community water fluoridation
dental public health messages
fluoride campaigns
Journal
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
ISSN: 1943-4723
Titre abrégé: J Am Dent Assoc
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7503060
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2021
Dec 2021
Historique:
received:
25
09
2020
revised:
17
05
2021
accepted:
02
06
2021
pubmed:
8
9
2021
medline:
15
12
2021
entrez:
7
9
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Despite evidence that community water fluoridation (CWF) protects oral health, improves health equity, is safe and cost-effective, and contributes to social well-being, little is known regarding which of these benefits should be highlighted to effectively influence support for CWF. This within-participants study examines differences in CWF support in response to pro-CWF messages reflecting themes of oral health, health equity, CWF safety, cost-effectiveness, or social well-being among a sample of parents. Prior belief that CWF has health benefits, worry about potential health risks, and normative beliefs were also examined as independent predictors of support for each theme. Oral health, health equity, and safety messages significantly increased support in comparison with social well-being messages (P < .05). Oral health messages also produced greater support than cost-savings messages. Belief that CWF has health benefits positively predicted support, as did normative beliefs that one's family and physician approve of CWF. Worry about health risks and community and dentist norms were not significant predictors of support. There were no interaction effects of message themes and prior beliefs. Messaging focused on oral health, health equity, and the safety of CWF may be the most effective at influencing support for CWF. Preexisting personal beliefs about CWF benefits significantly predict support, but so do normative beliefs-family and physician norms in particular. Findings suggest dental health educators should emphasize CWF's oral health benefits, such as preventing caries, over cost-saving and social well-being outcomes. They should also consider collaborating with family physicians to promote CWF and referencing other groups that may positively influence beliefs that CWF is beneficial.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Despite evidence that community water fluoridation (CWF) protects oral health, improves health equity, is safe and cost-effective, and contributes to social well-being, little is known regarding which of these benefits should be highlighted to effectively influence support for CWF.
METHODS
METHODS
This within-participants study examines differences in CWF support in response to pro-CWF messages reflecting themes of oral health, health equity, CWF safety, cost-effectiveness, or social well-being among a sample of parents. Prior belief that CWF has health benefits, worry about potential health risks, and normative beliefs were also examined as independent predictors of support for each theme.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Oral health, health equity, and safety messages significantly increased support in comparison with social well-being messages (P < .05). Oral health messages also produced greater support than cost-savings messages. Belief that CWF has health benefits positively predicted support, as did normative beliefs that one's family and physician approve of CWF. Worry about health risks and community and dentist norms were not significant predictors of support. There were no interaction effects of message themes and prior beliefs.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Messaging focused on oral health, health equity, and the safety of CWF may be the most effective at influencing support for CWF. Preexisting personal beliefs about CWF benefits significantly predict support, but so do normative beliefs-family and physician norms in particular.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest dental health educators should emphasize CWF's oral health benefits, such as preventing caries, over cost-saving and social well-being outcomes. They should also consider collaborating with family physicians to promote CWF and referencing other groups that may positively influence beliefs that CWF is beneficial.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34489066
pii: S0002-8177(21)00345-7
doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2021.06.002
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1012-1019Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.